‘Persona non grata’: Israel bars UN’s Guterres from entering country

Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz Wednesday announced that U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been declared “persona non grata” and is now barred from entering Israel.

The decision follows Guterres’ alleged failure to “unequivocally condemn” Iran’s recent missile attack on Israel, as said by the Israeli government.

Today, I have declared UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres persona non grata in Israel and banned him from entering the country.

Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran's heinous attack on Israel, as almost every country in the world has done, does not deserve to step…

— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) October 2, 2024

‘Does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil’

Guterres had recently called for immediate de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East, urging restraint from all parties.

However, Israeli officials criticized the U.N. chief for not taking a firm stance against Iran’s actions following the missile attack on Israel.

“Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack on Israel, as almost every country in the world has done, does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil,” Katz said.

Speaking about Guterres, the Israeli minister also said: “This is a Secretary-General who has yet to denounce the massacre and sexual atrocities committed by Hamas murderers on Oct. 7, nor has he led any efforts to declare them a terrorist organization.”

“A Secretary-General who gives backing to terrorists, rapists, and murderers from Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and now Iran—the mothership of global terror – will be remembered as a stain on the history of the U.N.,” the Israeli minister said.

Israeli foreign minister concluded by saying that “Israel will continue to defend its citizens and uphold its national dignity, with or without Guterres.”